WANGANUI ANNUAL REGATTA

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XVIII, Issue 9352, 10 March 1881, Page 2

WANGANUI ANNUAL REGATTA

The Wanganui Annual Eegatta which was held yesterday was a thoroughly successful affair, the races being very interesting, and the attendance of the public large. The p.s. Manawatu acted as flagship, but though she was thrown, open to the public at a small charge, and the excellent band of the Wellington City Rifles was stationed on board of her, the public seemed to prefer stopping on the bank, and she had very few visitors. The s.s. Clyde was engaged in running up and down the river, but was also poorly patronised. The Wanganui Rifle Band went through, a very agreeable programme of music on the riverbank, and enlivened the proceedings considerably. The first race was the Maiden Race, — Four-oared Inrigged Boats; distance, 1£ miles. First prize, £6 ; Second prize, £1. Wanganui E.C.s Rata . . . . 1 Union B.C.'s Maiden . . . . 2 The Maiden got the best of the start, but after a mile Barns called on his men and below the bend they came away winning by a length and a half. Scullers' Race. — For scullers who have never won a prize of the value of £10; distance, Smiles. Prize, £5. Batkin . . .". .. . . 1 Braithwaite . . . . . . 2 Mr Anson sent the two away to a good start. Braithwaite went to the front, but at the bend Batkin collared him. Braithwaite then damaged his stretcher and gave in, and Batkin paddled home. Senior Fouks. — Four-oared Inrigged Boats, String-test: distance, 2 \ miles. First prize, £15 ; Second prize, £5. Manawatu R. C's Manawatu . . 1 Wanganui B. C.s Rata . . . . 2 The boats got away evenly, the former taking the lead. The Manawatus, however, passed their opponents, shooting the bridge three lengths ahead, and the race was won by seven lengths. Junior Outriggeb Race. — Four-oared outriggers, for oarsmen who have never rowed for an advertised race of the value of £20 ; distance, 1-A miles. First prize, £8; 2nd, £2; Prizes to be given in plate. Wanganui R.C.s Tiger Lilly . . 1 Manawatu R.C.s Dolly Varden . . 2 Union B.C.'s Wanganui . . . . 3 The start was a good one, if anything slightly in favour of the Foxton men, and they led for some distance, the Union boat gradually falling out of the race. After about a mile the Tiger Lilly pushed the Foxton men hard. From the bend to the winning post the race was characterised by a series of fine spurts by each boat. The steering of the Foxton men was wild. 100 yards from the post Wanganui spurted gamely and landed their boat a winner by half-a-length. During the race the stroke of the Tiger Lily broke his sliding seat. Inrigged Race. — For crews not exceeding 10 stone ; distance, 1£ miles. First prize, £1 ; 2nd, £3. Manawatu R.C.s Manawatu . . 1 Union B.C.'s Maiden .. ..2 In this race the Transit only started to enable the second boat to claim a prize, and did not row the race oufc. The Maiden got the best of the start and led for about 500 yards, when the Foxton crew overhauled them and won as they liked by about two lengths. Junior Fours.— Four-oared inrigged boats, for oarsmen who have never rowed for an advertised race of the value of £20; distance, 1£ miles. First prize, £7 ; second, £3. Wanganui R.C.s Rata .. ..1 Manawatu R.C.s Manawatu . . 2 The boats got away pretty well together, but cone of the Wanganui men broke an oar just before the start, and <

the boat was thus thrown out of the race. The Eata quickly acquired a lead, and kept it. Ladies' Plate. — Four-oared outrigged boats; distance, 2$ miles. First prize, £25 ; second, £5. Wanganui E.C.s Matai .. ..1 Manawatu E.C.s Dolly Yarden .. 2 This race was even better contested than the Junior Outrigger Eace. At a quarter of a mile from the post the Manawatu boat lost pace, and the Matai drew ahead.. Fifty yards from the post the Dolly Vardeu men ceased rowing, and left the victory with the Wanganui men. The Foxton boat capsized after passing the post, giving the men a cold bath. Volunteer Eace. — Four-oared inrigged boats; distance, 2 miles. Prize, £5. Fire Brigade's Eata 1 Wanganui Eifle. Volunteer's Manawatu . . ■ . • • . . 2 The race was a gift to the Fire Brigade men, who won by about four lengths. Sailing Match. — For open boats ; not to exceed 21ft in length in keel ; distance, about 7 miles. First prize, £5 ; second, £1. Mr Cochrane's Prince . . . . 1 Captain Bonner's Clyde . . . . 2 Won easily, after a pretty race. An accident occurred to the Flora Macdonald, by which she was capsized, but the crew were picked up all right.